Me and my Stars

Another decent result

After my irritation with Michael Bolton, I was glad to see him go. I guess he couldn't put the time in since he was touring. Celebs don't realize how much work it is. Good pay, though, I'll bet.
This week, will "The Situation" connect to the music? If he can't, I would say he does not "have the guns" after all.

DWTS

Michael Bolton was truly horrible, though I would not say the worst ever, as Bruno did. What about the old rapper who hardly even moved his big feet? At least Michael Bolton seemed to be trying, which must have been what Len appreciated. I never want to see him try to dance again, or have a fight with Chelsie about her language - getting all bent out of shape over a quiet "Whatever".
I think the producers played a nasty trick putting those people out with the hardest dances first. Do they think we prefer to see train wrecks? This is not "When Good Trains Go Bad."

Papers

Sometimes just one bookshelf needs more sorting than a whole closet.
My sister offered to sort our mother's papers. I'll go too and support her effort on a joint visit in October.
But before that, I'm the one to sort my own papers. Dance steps written in old notebooks call out for attention. Do I want Lil's Diamond Waltz Step? How about "Boris' Favorite" with a Waltz lock step and run around?
I'll ask Ron Gursky and then study the International basics with him.

Ta Ria Pi

We have special words in Flamenco to describe the use of the hands in castanet work.
This month, Kati finally put the castanets to Sevillanas and my attention is caught.
So, Ta Ria Ria Pi, Ta Ria Ria Pi,Ta Ria Ria Pi, Ta Ria Ria Chin Pon, Ta Ria Ria Pi.

Promenade

Hanging out with students, I am examining the promenade. For years, the step meant changing direction and a signal on the lady's back. My dancer from a time warp, Vicenzo, remembers this clearly. I don't want to try to change his dancing because he might not be able to dance then. Also, getting the concept of body lead to wedding couples can be excruciating, not to say impossible.
Teacher's dilemma.
So Tuesday, I presented both to the tiny class and let them choose. They preferred the new way, saying it looked more natural. Now I get to watch them dance and see how they do.

Life goes on

In spite of all the bad news and job losses, sign ups have been okay this season, so we seem to be saying, cautiously, we can get through this. The youth will need to learn how to cut back. We need to remember how to be reasonable and responsible. The bankers need to remember this too.
Social dancing continues as pretty cheap and the best do-it-yourself fun there is.
My job as dance teacher includes roles as event organizer, facilitator, coach, and therapist, a good person to have on your team.

Dancing with the Stars, Season 11

First off, let me say I was thrilled that the worst dancer left first for once.
Mr. Hasselhoff has the name but not the fans anymore, thankfully. According to his daughters, they made him accept the arduous task of dancing, and he will be just as glad to leave.
Also, world class musician (Carlos) Santana was a pleasure as usual.
In the competition, Margaret Cho was funny! (The comedians never are.) Plus I loved the golden wings she wrapped herself in.
Jennifer Grey was the one who ruined her career by getting a nose job, so I expect her to shoot herself in the foot any time now. When Brooke asked her how it felt to dance to Patrick Swayze's song, she just said it was interesting. Luckily the camera crews caught her weeping in rehearsal. And the very end of the routine, did she really collapse and Derek have to hold her up, almost losing his balance?
Do the costume designers choose bad colors for the dancers on purpose? Anna's red hair clashed with her pink dress where a green one would have been beautiful. Brandy's had that scrunchy front and a color that matched her skin.

A TV Show?

Footage of NBDW Celebration
Footage of Bourne DWTS
Throw in last year's Mary French Memorial, and I have a show.
Usually I edit in January when things are really slow around here.
Now it's time to watch a tape - Bristol Palin! Rick Fox! David Hasselhoff!

Weekend Wow

Friday - National Ballroom Dance Week Celebration of Dance sell out crowd.
Saturday - the best Flamenco castanet class ever.
Sunday - ***Dancing with the Bourne Stars***. No calamities.
Much video to edit.
Friends of the Bourne Library made money not just for themselves. People could vote for their favorites using cash. That money went to the couples' chosen charities, so we enriched the community all around.
To me, the important part was that my people had fun and put on a good show. They also learned a lot about dancing. I got compliments on my patience because of my emphasis on basics.
The judges were almost clueless and lost track of their scores, so the final results seemed pretty random, but we knew actual dancing skill was not what the show was about. Bourne people voted for their friends and neighbors, and the applause meter rating went to the couple whose family was seated nearest to the DJ's stand. YAY!

Social dancer/Performer

I got a lesson in performance last night. At the tech rehearsal for Bourne DWTS, we went through the Waltz. I had to stand in for an absent partner, and got judged! I began with the proper stance, but when we got into trouble, I began watching my partner to figure out how to fix where we were going. The practice judges criticized me for losing my posture!

Mary French Dance Scholarship

I have finally begun to set up for local scholarship candidates and have a young man who is serious about ballroom dance. He was away in Italy for last year where he took Argentine Tango. Now a senior in high school, he's ready for private lessons with Ron Gursky to prepare him for the ballroom dance competitions in college. One of his college criteria is that they have a ballroom dance team.
I need a teen partner for him, talented and short.

Gursky and BYOB

1st Studio Party since the 90s!
Mary had them in the 80s before the Sons of Italy opened. She had little tables even.
I ran some with her to introduce night school students to the space.
So now, we will try again.
October 3, Sunday evening, 6:30 to 9:30 PM, our snacks, BYOB
featuring a Rumba dance lesson by Ron Gursky at 6:30.
Space is limited, so advance reservations are suggested. $15
Call the studio 508 564 6165 or Ellen 508 548 0036

Blues, Country, and Ballroom

The nice dancers at Shemekia Copeland's free concert at the Narrows Festival were West Coast people. They knew the line dancers on Cape Cod and used to go to Pufferbellies. When they went to a ballroom event, they felt left out. I said everybody was too busy dancing to make them feel at home. That's the problem, they agreed.Carmen and Bobby.

Livin' Las Vegas

At the Navigator on Sandwich Road, Falmouth, the Flamingo Room act by Miami Mike and Little Eddie worked very well. Best part - they are good singers, easy to listen to. They allow but do not expect singing along. They greet the audience as people enter and then remember names and characteristics to interact, flirting with the ladies and teasing the men as they perform their song and dance.
I came in late, having got the time wrong, and was placed at a quiet table. Joe stayed home to watch TV tennis, the US Open. Tiny was dancing with Mike, his longish white hair needing styling, but he didn't care. The gay guy at my table cared, but he said he was happy with the atmosphere, very much family including his boyfriend. We danced a bit, just polite slow stuff. Hip hop is his venue.
I had a glass of Portuguese red wine and danced swing with Tiny.
Then a former student spotted me, excellent dancer, no partner now that she's divorced again. Her table was livelier, singing along to Sweet Caroline. I got to lead for a while.
Thumbs up for an entertaining evening.

Off Cape

Tomorrow at Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, Shemekia Copeland, Entrain, and others are at a free concert. I have been curious about this venue for years. Hope for good weather because the big names are outdoors. Other perform inside.

Also, the continuously entertaining granddaughter will be coming from Providence with her fabulous parents.
We will quiz them about the October 30 event at the Zeiterion in New Bedford. A Cuban dance company performance is augmented by a tent, dance music and tapas outside.

Dance Art/Craft

I met a metal piercer whose art really appeals to me. She can get very dramatic effects with precise cut outs and is interested in trying to do dancers.
The pieces are often sold as ornaments, but a set of ballroom dancers could decorate a wine bottle, a counterpoint to the etched wine glasses that were so popular at last year's Mary French Memorial Dance.
The loss of the Sons of Italy continues to reverberate.
The Portuguese American Association realizes they have more business as a result. They haven't made the connection that even more business is out there. Although they claim to want to finish the building, I have seen no action in my time there.

Sundays at the Studio with Ron

Ballroom enrichment begins this week.

A new initiative will be a ballroom party with a Ron Gursky Rumba? Chacha? workshop on a Sunday - as soon as September 26? Given the studio size, advance tickets might be necessary. Sometimes something new gets mobbed.

The studio has a new policy for Ron's class series.
Class rates will remain the same ($12 per person per class in a series, $14 per person for individual classes), but signing up for the series will not include make up classes if you have to miss.
Private lessons are still $75.
We need at least 3 couples to sign up to run the Argentine Tango class, and it looks like we will make it for this series of 4.

******************STARS***********************

We are quite pleased with work of the Friends of the Bourne Public Library, organizers of the event September 19. They are thorough, cooperative, engaged, and thoughtful. My dancers are being pampered, given gowns and make-up as well as dance lessons and tips on posture. Not all will be able to dance, but as long as they are having fun, the show will be terrific. Then Naomi and Jack will provide the polish of a professional performance.

Dancing Dog

This dog and partner are tlaented and hard working.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc9xq-TVyHI

Cape Cod Music Fest

Rescheduled to Columbus Day Weekend which is traditionally horrible weather on Cape.
Our club (CIABDA then, CCBD now) held dances on Sundays of that weekend for years because we could not get the Saturday nights at Betsy's. I remember rain that wouldn't stop, and we were blamed for some floor damage.
I'm not going to buy tickets ahead for the music October 10 at the Barnstable County Fairgrounds.

Bourne Enterprise

Great article on Bourne Dancing With the Stars with photos of our class.
These people actually enjoy performing, unlike most of my students.
The event seems to be shaping up well. There will be time for the audience to dance, and the DJ says he'll play dance music.
Forty dollars isn't that much considering it's a dinner at the Coonamesset Inn, so some of my students are going.

Sol Y Canto vs CCBD

Friday the 17th, a choice between a nice Latin group and our club dance/performance.
Darn. I hate choices like that.
Last time we saw Sol Y Canto, they included their pre-teen girls as performers - dull.
Young performers will probably be part of the NBDW celebration - flashy.
Both DownCape = long drive.
Keep you posted.

This sounds good

Cape Cod Music & Scallop Festival Sunday, September 5, 2010
Barnstable County Fairgrounds
Rain or Shine - covered event in case of rain What about hurricane?
featuring New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Greg Abate Jazz Quartet, Stage Door Canteen, Daniel Byrnes Quartet (DBQ), and The Rip-it-Ups (featuing founding members of NRBQ) Scallops, Chowder, Lobster Rolls, Quahogs, BBQ, Ice Cream, Beer & Wine